Molecular characterization and expression of an alternate proliferating cell nuclear antigen homologue,PfPCNA2, in Plasmodium falciparum

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum genome sequencing has revealed the existence of a second gene for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a key factor in a variety of DNA metabolic events. The alternate copy of PCNA (PfPCNA2) shows only 23% identity to an earlier reported P. falciparum PCNA homologue (PfPCNA1). Our analysis indicated structural conservation of PfPCNA2 compared to eukaryotic PCNAs. PfPCNA1 and 2 polypeptides showed differential expression in the intraerythrocytic cell cycle of the malaria parasite. PfPCNA1 expression slowly increases about threefold from the ring to the late schizont stage. In contrast PfPCNA2 showed robust expression in trophozoites and early schizonts with a sudden drop in expression in the late schizont stage, suggesting that the two PfPCNAs may function under different physiological conditions. Chemical cross-linking indicated the presence of a trimeric PfPCNA2 protein, indicating the possible existence of a functional ring-like PfPCNA2 structure.     

陆地棉GST基因家族全基因组分析

谷胱甘肽转移酶(glutathione-S-transferase, GST)是一种普遍存在的具有多功能的超家族蛋白,在植物初次生代谢、逆境胁迫、胞间信号传递等方面具有重要作用;同时,作为配体其在植物激素代谢以及物质转运方面也发挥作用。为了解析陆地棉(Gossypium hirsutum L.) GST基因家族的信息,本研究对该基因家族成员的种类、进化关系、物理定位、基因结构和保守基序以及表达模式进行了分析。结果显示,在陆地棉全基因组中共含有70个GST基因,进化树和基因结构分析将该家族分为U族、F族、T族、Z族、EF1Bγ族和TCHQD族。基因定位分析发现,除了AD/At2、AD/At4、AD/At5、AD/Dt5、AD/Dt10号染色体上没有GST基因外,其他染色体上都有GST基因,并且在AD/At9、AD/Dt7、AD/Dt12、AD/Dt13这4条染色体上出现基因簇。对F族(Phi类) 9个GST基因进行荧光定量分析,结果表明,除GhGSTF1可能为假基因外,GhGSTF2~9等8个基因在陆地棉根、茎、叶以及各个发育时期的纤维中均有表达;结合生物信息学分析,推测GhGSTF8可能参与原花青素/花青素的转运和积累;GhGSTF4、GhGSTF6和GhGSTF9可能在调节陆地棉的生长和胁迫反应中起作用,而GhGSTF2、GhGSTF3、GhGSTF5和GhGSTF7的功能还有待进一步研究。本研究为陆地棉GST基因家族的分子进化及功能研究提供了理论依据。     

Plasmodium falciparum origin recognition complex subunit 5: functional characterization and role in DNA replication foci formation

The mechanism of DNA replication initiation and progression is poorly understood in the parasites, including human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum . Using bioinformatics tools and yeast complementation assay, we identified a putative homologue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae o rigin r ecognition c omplex subunit 5 in P. falciparum (PfORC5). PfORC5 forms distinct nuclear foci colocalized with the replication foci marker proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PfPCNA) and co-immunoprecipitates with PCNA during early-to-mid trophozoite stage replicating parasites. Interestingly, these proteins separate from each other at the non-replicating late schizont stage, citing the evidence of the presence of both PCNA and ORC components in replication foci during eukaryotic DNA replication. PfORC1, another ORC subunit, colocalizes with PfPCNA and PfORC5 at the beginning of DNA replication, but gets degraded at the late schizont stage, ensuring the regulation of DNA replication in the parasites. Further, we have identified putative PCNA-interacting protein box in PfORC1 that may explain in part the colocalization of PfORC and PfPCNA. Additionally, use of specific DNA replication inhibitor hydroxyurea affects ORC5/PCNA foci formation and parasitic growth. These results strongly favour replication factory model in the parasites and confer great potential to understand the co-ordination between ORC and PCNA during eukaryotic DNA replication in general.     

Cloning and characterization of a novel human TEKTIN1 gene

Tektins comprise a family of filament-forming proteins that are known to be coassembled with tubulins to form ciliary and flagellar microtubules. A new member of the tektin gene family was cloned from the human fetal brain cDNA library. We hence named it the human TEKTIN1 gene. TEKTIN1 cDNA consists of 1375 bp and has a putative open reading frame encoding 418 amino acids. The predicted protein is 48.3 kDa in size, and its amino acid sequence is 82% identical to that of the mouse, rat, and dog. One conserved peptide RPNVELCRD was observed at position number 323–331 of the amino acid sequence, which is a prominent feature of tektins and is likely to represent a functionally important protein domain. TEKTIN1 gene was mapped to the human chromosome 17 by BLAST search, and at least eight exons were found. Northern blot analysis indicated that TEKTIN1 was predominantly expressed in testis. By in-situ hybridization analysis, TEKTIN1 mRNA was localized to spermatocytes and round spermatids in the seminiferous tubules of the mouse testis, indicating that it may play a role in spermatogenesis.     

Genomic organization of four β-1,4-endoglucanase genes in plant-parasitic cyst nematodes and its evolutionary implications

The genomic organization of genes encoding β-1,4-endoglucanases (cellulases) from the plant-parasitic cyst nematodes Heterodera glycines and Globodera rostochiensis (HG-eng1, Hg-eng2, GR-eng1, and GR-eng2) was investigated. HG-eng1 and GR-eng1 both contained eight introns and structural domains of 2151 and 2492 bp, respectively. HG-eng2 and GR-eng2 both contained seven introns and structural domains of 2324 and 2388 bp, respectively. No significant similarity in intron sequence or size was observed between HG-eng1 and HG-eng2, whereas the opposite was true between GR-eng1 and GR-eng2. Intron positions among all four cyst nematode cellulase genes were conserved identically in relation to the predicted amino acid sequence. HG-eng1, GR-eng1, and GR-eng2 had several introns demarcated by 5′-GC…AG-3′ in the splice sites, and all four nematode cellulase genes had the polyadenylation and cleavage signal sequence 5′-GAUAAA-3′—both rare occurences in eukaryotic genes. The 5′- flanking regions of each nematode cellulase gene, however, had signature sequences typical of eukaryotic promoter regions, including a TATA box, bHLH-type binding sites, and putative silencer, repressor, and enhancer elements. Database searches and subsequent phylogenetic comparison of the catalytic domain of the nematode cellulases placed the nematode genes in one group, with Family 5, subfamily 2, glycosyl hydrolases from Scotobacteria and Bacilliaceae as the most homologous groups. The overall amino acid sequence identity among the four nematode cellulases was from 71 to 83%, and the amino acid sequence identity to bacterial Family 5 cellulases ranged from 33 to 44%. The eukaryotic organization of the four cyst nematode cellulases suggests that they share a common ancestor, and their strong homology to prokaryotic glycosyl hydrolases may be indicative of an ancient horizontal gene transfer.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of soybean peroxidase gene families

Plant peroxidases play major roles in many physiological processes. A soybean seedbud (21 days after flowering) Uni-ZAP XR cDNA library was screened with a peroxidase-specific probe. The probe was generated by 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends with soybean seedbud total RNA and a degenerate primer derived from a plant peroxidase conserved amino acid region (distal heme ligand). Positive clones were recovered by PCR using the degenerate peroxidase-specific primer and the vector primer T₇ flanking the cloning site. Four cDNAs, designated GmEpa1, GmEpa2, GmEpb1, and GmEpb2, contained 1298, 1326, 1171, and 1145 nucleotides, excluding poly(A) tail, and encoded mature proteins of 303, 303, 292, and 292 amino acids, respectively. The four predicted amino acid sequences showed homology to other peroxidases. GmEpa1 and GmEpa2 exhibited 97% amino acid identity, GmEpb1 and GmEpb2 exhibited 93% amino acid identity, and GmEpa1 and GmEpb1 exhibited 47% amino acid identity. GmEPa1 and GmEPb1 were expressed as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli. The recombinant fusion proteins were sequestered in inclusion bodies and active forms of the two denatured proteins were recovered after in vitro folding in a medium containing hemin, urea and Ca²⁺. GmEpa1 and GmEpa2 messages were detected in developing seed and root, while GmEpb1 and GmEpb2 messages were present in root, leaf, stem and seed pod. These cDNAs and cDNA-specific primers will allow investigations into peroxidase’s role in development, stress response and in other physiological processes.     

Mouse fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4): characterization of the gene and functional assessment as a very long chain acyl-CoA synthetase

FATP4 (SLC27A4) is a member of the fatty acid transport protein (FATP) family, a group of evolutionarily conserved proteins that are involved in cellular uptake and metabolism of long and very long chain fatty acids. We cloned and characterized the murine FATP4 gene and its cDNA. From database analysis we identified the human FATP4 genomic sequence. The FATP4 gene was assigned to mouse chromosome 2 band B, syntenic to the region 9q34 encompassing the human gene. The open reading frame was determined to be 1929 bp in length, encoding a polypeptide of 643 amino acids. Within the coding region, the exon-intron structures of the murine FATP4 gene and its human counterpart are identical, revealing a high similarity to the FATP1 gene. The overall amino acid identity between the deduced murine and human FATP4 polypeptides is 92.2%, and between the murine FATP1 and FATP4 polypeptides is 60.3%. Northern analysis showed that FATP4 mRNA was expressed most abundantly in small intestine, brain, kidney, liver, skin and heart. Transfection of FATP4 cDNA into COS1 cells resulted in a 2-fold increase in palmitoyl-CoA synthetase (C16:0) and a 5-fold increase in lignoceroyl-CoA synthetase (C24:0) activity from membrane extracts, indicating that the FATP4 gene encodes an acyl-CoA synthetase with substrate specificity biased towards very long chain fatty acids.     

Sex change strategy and the aromatase genes

Sequential hermaphroditism is a common reproductive strategy in many teleosts. Steroid production is known to mediate both the natural and induced sex change, yet beyond this the physiology directing this process has received little attention. Cytochrome P450 aromatase is a key enzyme in the hormonal pathway catalysing the conversion of sex steroids, androgens to oestrogens, and thus is highly relevant to the process of sex change. This study reports the isolation of cDNA sequences for aromatase isoforms CYP19A1 and CYP19A2 from teleost species representing three forms of sexual hermaphroditism: Lates calcarifer (protandry), Cromileptes altivelis (protogyny), and Gobiodon histrio (bi-directional). Deduced amino acid analysis of these isoforms with other reported isoforms from gonochoristic (single sex) teleosts revealed 56–95% identity within the same isoform while only 48–65% identity between isoforms irrespective of species and sexual strategy. Phylogenetic analysis supported this result separating sequences into isoform exclusive clades in spite of species apparent evolutionary distance. Furthermore, this study isolates 5′ flanking regions of all above genes and describes putative cis-acting elements therein. Elements identified include steroidogenic factor 1 binding site (SF-1), oestrogen response element (ERE), progesterone response element (PRE), androgen response element (ARE), glucocorticoid response elements (GRE), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor /retinoid X receptor heterodimer responsive element (PPAR/RXR), nuclear factor kappaβ (NF-kappaβ), SOX 5, SOX 9, and Wilms tumor suppressor (WTI). A hypothetical in vivo model was constructed for both isoforms highlighting potential roles of these putative cis-acting elements with reference to normal function and sexual hermaphroditism.     

双孢蘑菇Septin基因Ab.Cdc3的克隆与分析

具有 GTPase 活性的 Septin蛋白广泛存在于除植物外的所有真核生物中,其功能多样。采用tBlastn将灰盖鬼伞Coprinus cinereus中与菌柄伸长相关的Septin蛋白Cc.Cdc3与双孢蘑菇基因组数据进行比对,在双孢蘑菇基因组中找到Cc.Cdc3同源蛋白编码基因Ab.Cdc3。生物信息学分析结果表明,Ab.Cdc3蛋白序列具有保守GTPase结构功能域。通过荧光定量PCR（quantitative real-time PCR,qRT-PCR）方法分析Ab.Cdc3在不同生长阶段的表达模式,结果显示该基因在子实体菌柄中表达量较菌丝、原基和菌盖中的表达量高;采后不同保藏时间样品Ab.Cdc3基因表达分析结果显示,在采后0h表达量显著高于采后12h和48h;这些结果为进一步研究该基因在双孢蘑菇生长发育中的功能提供参考。     

Opioid-binding cell adhesion molecule (OBCAM)-related clones from a rat brain cDNA library.

The AKin10 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana encoding a putative Ser/Thr protein kinase (PK) has been isolated and characterized. The AKin10-encoding gene is located on a genomic 5.4-kb BamHI fragment and contains ten introns, one being located in the 5' untranslated region. The deduced amino acid sequence of AKin10 is 65% identical over the catalytic domain to the yeast PK (SNF1). SNF1 is essential for the derepression of many glucose-repressible genes, including Suc2 which encodes invertase. Southern blot hybridization experiments suggested the presence of one copy of the gene per haploid genome of A. thaliana. Northern hybridization experiments indicated that this gene is expressed in roots, shoots and leaves. AKin10 may play an important role in a signal transduction cascade regulating gene expression and carbohydrate metabolism in higher plants.     

A new glimpse of FadR-DNA crosstalk revealed by deep dissection of the E. coli FadR regulatory protein

Escherichia coli (E. coli) FadR regulator plays dual roles in fatty acid metabolism, which not only represses the fatty acid degradation (fad) system, but also activates the unsaturated fatty acid synthesis pathway. Earlier structural and biochemical studies of FadR protein have provided insights into interplay between FadR protein with its DNA target and/or ligand, while the missing knowledge gap (esp. residues with indirect roles in DNA binding) remains unclear. Here we report this case through deep mapping of old E. coli fadR mutants accumulated. Molecular dissection of E. coli K113 strain, a fadR mutant that can grow on decanoic acid (C10) as sole carbon sources unexpectedly revealed a single point mutation of T178G in fadR locus (W60G in FadR_k113). We also observed that a single geneticallyrecessive mutation of W60G in FadR regulatory protein can lead to loss of its DNA-binding activity, and thereby impair all the regulatory roles in fatty acid metabolisms. Structural analyses of FadR protein indicated that the hydrophobic interaction amongst the three amino acids (W60, F74 and W75) is critical for its DNA-binding ability by maintaining the configuration of its neighboring two β-sheets. Further site-directed mutagenesis analyses demonstrated that the FadR mutants (F74G and/or W75G) do not exhibit the detected DNA-binding activity, validating above structural reasoning.     

子囊菌交配型基因MAT1-1的系统发育

子囊菌具有无性态与有性态的复杂性,以及人们对其系统发育和亲缘关系了解的局限性,进而导致菌物学家对子囊菌分类尚持不同意见。子囊菌的交配型基因（MAT）进化保守,且编码的蛋白质调控子囊菌的有性生殖过程。核盘菌Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary隶属于子囊菌门Ascomycota、盘菌纲Discomycete,是一种典型丝状同宗配合真菌,控制该菌有性生殖的交配型基因MAT1-1和MAT1-2紧密连锁,且该菌并无有性态与无性态的复杂性。故此,本文根据所克隆的核盘菌交配型基因MAT1-1,利用PAUP*软件将82种含有Alpha-box交配型基因的子囊菌进行了系统进化分析,通过核苷酸及氨基酸水平的系统发育分析,并结合Ainsworth（1973）分类系统及最新的Deep Hyphae（2006）分类系统的对比研究,发现所构建的系统进化树与传统分类所表现的进化关系基本一致,且核盘菌交配型基因MAT1-1在进化过程中功能相对保守,该分析结果有助于对其他子囊菌交配型基因的克隆、系统分类与进化研究,同时对核盘菌的亲缘关系、病害预测及防治等具有重要意义。     

A repressor element in the 5'-untranslated region of human Pax5 exon 1A

Five members of the RecQ helicase family, RECQL, WRN, BLM, RTS and RECQL5, have been found in human and three of them (WRN, BLM and RTS) were disclosed to be the genes responsible for Werner, Bloom and Rothmund–Thomson syndromes, respectively. RECQL5 (RecQ helicase protein-like 5) was isolated as the fifth member of the family in humans through a search of homologous expressed sequence tags. The gene is expressed with at least three alternative splicing products, , β and γ. Here, we isolated mouse RECQL5β and determined the DNA sequence of full-length cDNA as well as the genome organization and chromosome locus. The mouse RECQL5β gene consists of 2949 bp coding 982 amino acid residues. Comparison of amino acid sequence among human (Homo sapiens), mouse (Mus musculus), Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans RECQL5β homologs revealed three portions of highly conserved regions in addition to the helicase domain. Nineteen exons are dispersed over 40 kbp in the genome and all of the acceptor and donor sites for the splicing of each exon conform to the GT/AG rule. The gene is localized to the mouse chromosome 11E2, which has a syntenic relation to human 17q25.2-q25.3 where human RECQL5β exists. Our genetic characterizations of the mouse RECQL5β gene will contribute to functional studies on the RECQL5β products.     

尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型MAPK FoSlt2敲除突变体的转录组分析

尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense（FOC）是威胁香蕉生产的重要土传病原真菌。丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（mitogen-activated protein kinase,MAPK）FoSlt2信号通路在调控尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型的生长发育、细胞壁完整性和致病性方面发挥着重要作用。为了揭示FoSlt2信号通路的致病机理和寻找农药靶标,本研究利用高通量RNA-seq技术对该病菌野生型菌株和FoSlt2敲除突变体菌株的转录组进行了比较分析,结果表明差异表达基因共有2 164个,其中上调表达基因有1 184个,下调表达基因有980个。Gene Ontology（GO）功能分析结果表明,差异表达基因主要参与在结合、催化分子功能组和代谢过程、细胞过程生物学通路中。KEGG 功能富集分析结果表明,差异基因主要参与戊糖和葡糖醛酸盐转换、氨基糖和核苷酸糖、氨基葡聚糖降解、磷酸肌醇和碳类物质代谢通路,说明这些通路与尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型的生长发育和致病性相关。该研究为尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型致病机制的阐明奠定了理论基础。     

染色体展片法观察拟南芥雄性减数分裂过程中的染色体形态

减数分裂指DNA复制1次, 细胞核分裂2次, 产生染色体数目减半的单倍体配子, 是真核生物有性生殖所必需的环节。拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)是分子遗传学研究的传统模式生物。近年来, 随着显微镜技术的快速发展, 利用细胞学方法观察拟南芥减数分裂过程中的染色体形态和同源染色体互作事件, 将有助于深入认识减数分裂的分子遗传机制。该文详细描述了染色体展片法观察拟南芥雄性减数分裂细胞中的染色体形态。     

染色体展片法观察拟南芥雄性减数分裂过程中的染色体形态

减数分裂指DNA复制1次, 细胞核分裂2次, 产生染色体数目减半的单倍体配子, 是真核生物有性生殖所必需的环节。拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)是分子遗传学研究的传统模式生物。近年来, 随着显微镜技术的快速发展, 利用细胞学方法观察拟南芥减数分裂过程中的染色体形态和同源染色体互作事件, 将有助于深入认识减数分裂的分子遗传机制。该文详细描述了染色体展片法观察拟南芥雄性减数分裂细胞中的染色体形态。